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West Bengal Approves Free Bus Travel and Rs3,000 Monthly Aid for Women

May 18, 2026

Overview

On 18 May 2026, the West Bengal government approved two big schemes for women. The first is free bus travel on all state-run buses. The second is the Annapurna Yojana (also called Annapurna Bhandar Scheme). Under this, eligible women will get ₹3,000 per month. Both schemes will start on  1 June 2026 . This is a major step to help women with transport and household expenses.

Free Bus Travel for Women

From 1 June 2026, women in West Bengal can travel free on all state-run buses. This includes:

  • Students going to school or college

  • Working women travelling to offices

  • Women in rural areas

  • Women in cities and towns

The government wants to make public transport easier and cheaper for women. This will help them save money and move around freely.

Annapurna Yojana – Key Features

The Annapurna Yojana is a welfare scheme for women from poor families. It gives  ₹3,000 every month  directly to their bank accounts. This is done through direct benefit transfer (DBT). The money can be used for:

  • Household expenses

  • Food and groceries

  • Children’s needs

  • Any other family spending

This scheme will bring financial security to many women.

Eligibility and Beneficiary Coverage

Who can get the benefit?

  • Women already getting  Lakshmir Bhandar  scheme benefits will be included automatically.

  • Other women can apply through a  new portal  that will be opened soon.

  • The government will check the beneficiary list before launch. Ineligible entries will be removed.

Likely eligibility criteria (as per the news):

Month: 

Category: 

Criterion Detail
Age 25 to 60 years
Residency Permanent resident of West Bengal
Voter list Name must be on voter list
Bank account Aadhaar-linked bank account
Income group Low-income household or Economically Weaker Section (EWS)